Feature  |  April 14, 2023

What are you doing in your neighborhood this Earth Week?

by Matt Scott

Drawdowns_Neighborhood_Earth_Month.jpeg

Cooperative farm workers
Love Is Love Cooperative Farm

Earth Week, which takes place April 14–22, is an occasion inviting people everywhere to turn their attention to climate change and find their role in climate solutions. Do you know how you’ll help the world counter climate change this coming Earth Week?

If you’re looking for your own Earth Week ideas, check out the Drawdown Solutions Library, our Job Function Action Guides, or partner resources like Drawdown Ecochallenge. Looking for even more ways you can make an impact, like some of the everyday climate heroes we’ve featured to-date through the climate solutions short documentary series Drawdown’s Neighborhood? Today, we invite you to learn how some of the local climate heroes and organizations featured in Drawdown’s Neighborhood interviewees are celebrating Earth Week in their communities.

Pittsburgh

Helping reach drawdown with reduced food waste

Story: Alexis Cromer: Climate Solutions Require Creativity

What: Become a #FoodRescueHero. “Our volunteers are our personal heroes. Seven days a week across six counties in western Pennsylvania, thousands of people are saving good food from going to landfill. With the 412 Food Rescue app, you can volunteer as much or as little as you’d like. Claim a weekly rescue to volunteer every week at the same place, same time. Or claim a one-time rescue that needs to be transported as soon as possible.”

When: Anytime!

Learn more >>

Helping reach drawdown with transportation electrification

Story: Sarah Olexsak: Fueling a New, Cleaner Era of Mobility

What: Sustainable Business Breakfast. “Pittsburgh Earth Day is proud to host the 9th annual Sustainable Business Breakfast, themed Rethink: How You Think About the Future, at the Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel on Friday, April 21, 8–10 am, as part of The Green Voice Speaker Series. Event attendees will enjoy a continental breakfast while hearing from a panel of local sustainability leaders and experts,” including Tishekia Williams, managing director of external affairs and regulatory law for Duquesne Light,

When: Friday, April 21, 8–10 am

Learn more >> 

Helping reach drawdown with trees

Story: Clara Kitongo: Going to the Roots to Find Your Climate Superpower

What: Heritage Nursery Volunteer Saturday. “Volunteer with Tree Pittsburgh in our Heritage Nursery! Please register here so we know to expect you. It’s transplanting season, and we are looking for volunteers with a green thumb to help us transplant our young seedlings into larger containers. The majority of these trees and shrubs will be used in our future tree adoptions.”

When: Saturday, April 22, 10 am–2 pm 

Learn more >>

Helping reach drawdown with building retrofits

Story: Erica Cochran Hameen: Climate Solutions & Equity Go Hand in Hand

What: Member-only Happy Hour at CMU Intelligent Workplace. “Join us for a Happy Hour exploring Carnegie Mellon University’s Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace, which is home to the School of Architecture’s Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics (CBPD). This space is a treasure trove of research that has been testing innovations in creating healthy and efficient spaces for decades. This is one of our region’s best kept secrets, where internationally renowned research in the green building industry is happening right in our own backyard… [Among other things], GBA members will hear from CMU researchers including GBA board member Dr. Erica Cochran Hameen … about the team’s work to advance healthy and high-performance spaces for all building users.”

When: Thursday, April 27, 5:30–7:00

Learn more >>   

Atlanta

Helping reach drawdown with improved agriculture

Story: Demetrius Milling: Collaborative Farming for a Livable Future

What: Spring Plants at Local Farmers Markets. “Join us to shop for plant starts and organic amendments for your spring and summer garden.  A full list of varieties we grow can be found on our Spring Plant Sale page.

When: Sunday, April 16, 9 am–1 pm at Grant Park Farmers Market; Thursday, April 20, 4–8 pm at East Atlanta Village Farmers Market; Saturday, April 22, 8:30 am–12:30 pm at Freedom Farmers Market; Sunday, April 23, 9 am–1 pm at Grant Park Farmers Market

Learn more >>

Helping reach drawdown with climate solutions at home

Story: Blair Beasley: Toward Our Common Future: Drawdown Georgia

What: Everyday Climate Solutions: Tools to Help You Take Action at Home. “Earth Day is just around the corner. Are you feeling inspired to take action and reduce your carbon footprint? Then you won’t want to miss our FREE webinar that will identify some of the most impactful ways you help grow climate solutions in Georgia. From starting a compost system in your yard to eating less meat to upgrading to an electric car or truck, there are so many ways that each of us can make a difference. You’ll leave this webinar feeling inspired and empowered to take action on climate at home and in your community.” Moderated by Blair Beasley, director of climate strategies at the Ray C. Anderson Foundation.

When: Monday, April 17, 11 am ET (online) 

Learn more >> 

Helping reach drawdown with reduced food waste

Story: Adam Hicks: Making an Impact on Climate & Food Justice

What: Adventure Pick Volunteer—Spring Break in the Swamp! “Yeehaw, y’all! It’s time for our third annual Spring Break in the Swamp!! Join us for this super special two day Adventure Pick in sunny north Florida April 22–23. On Saturday, we’ll glean cabbage, kale, and/or onion from the south’s largest organic farm. After the pick, we’ll hit up one of the MANY crystal blue springs in the area and set up camp for the night. On Sunday morning, we’ll kayak the legendary, pristine Ichetucknee Springs in hopes of seeing MANATEES! (Oh and gators, birds, and all sorts of fish). Sign up here to join us.”

When: Saturday, April 22, 12–4 pm

Learn more >>

Twin Cities

Helping reach drawdown with renewable energy

Story: Whitney Terrill: Mobilizing an Interfaith Movement for Climate Solutions

What: Film Screening: Current Revolution. “Join MNIPL for an Earth Week screening and discussion of a new docuseries on renewable energy transition. Current Revolution, a series of short films from the American Resilience Project, explores the transition from fossil fuels to renewables with a focus on national security, economic prosperity, and environmental justice. The films show how the nation can embrace smart policies and investments that support grid modernization through distributed renewable energy generation and ensure that the transition is just and sustainable.”

When: Monday April 17, 7–8 pm

Learn more >> 

Helping reach drawdown with plant-based diets

Story: Cris Phillips: Growing Food for Health, Wealth, and Social Change

What: Community Cooks @ Breaking Bread Cafe. “Community Cooks workshops bring community members together to cook, eat, learn, and discuss social change. All are welcome and dinner is on us! Bring your friends, neighbors, and family!”

When: Wednesday, April 19, 5–7:30 pm

Learn more >>

Helping reach drawdown with used waste

Story: Jan Hagerman: Imagining the Possibilities, Using What We Have

What: Volunteer at ReStore. “Sign up for a 4-hour shift to see if volunteering is right for you! ReStore outlets are open Tuesday through Saturday, with volunteer opportunities open to individuals Tuesday through Friday. You can help merchandise or display items throughout the store, receive donations, cashier, or help customers. Don't worry, we'll show you what needs to be done and then work together!”

When: See available volunteer openings

Learn more >> 

Helping reach drawdown with solar power

Story: Bob Blake: Tribal Nations Can Lead a Clean Energy Future

What: Volunteer with Solar Bear. “Whether you are donating your time or financial resources, your generosity helps us achieve our goals. Solar Bear has experienced rapid growth since our inception. We appreciate your support as it helps us continue our environmental and social mission.”

When: Contact Solar Bear

Learn more >> 

Does this list spark ideas for you? Will you attend one of these events, participate in a similar event in your community, or create one of your own? Let us know by posting on social media (tagging @ProjectDrawdown and using #DrawdownsNeighborhood) how you’re spending this Earth Week. To discover solutions and take action with more stories from Drawdown’s Neighborhood, visit drawdown.org/neighborhood.

Press Contacts

If you are a journalist and would like to republish Project Drawdown content, please contact press@drawdown.org.

More Insights

News  |  November 16, 2023
Charred wood pellets
New report: Reducing black carbon
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News  |  November 15, 2023
A graphic for Drawdown's Neighborhood: Tri-State featuring skylines of New York City, Newark, and New Haven
Drawdown’s Neighborhood video series takes on the Tri-State area
by Drawdown Stories
Drawdown’s Neighborhood, presented by Project Drawdown, is a series of short documentaries featuring the stories of climate solutions heroes, city by city across America. For its fifth edition, the series heads to the northeast in Drawdown’s Neighborhood: Tri-State – now available online! Spanning New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the Tri-State area is one of the largest and most populous metropolitan areas in the world. As such, it both strongly impacts and is heavily impacted by climate change. From record-breaking heat waves to supercharged hurricanes, the Tri-State is all too familiar with the increasing threats wrought by climate change as well as the inequities exacerbated by such disasters.  Fortunately, the region is also brimming with bold creators, innovative leaders, and energized environmentalists working at the forefront of climate solutions to help their home – and the world – become a greener, healthier, and more equitable place. Drawdown’s Neighborhood: Tri-State passes the mic to eleven of these climate heroes whose voices too often go unheard.  Voices of the Tri-State Join Drawdown’s Neighborhood host and Project Drawdown Director of Storytelling and Engagement, Matt Scott, as he introduces us to: Amanda Appelson, Plantega (Bronx, NY) Hailey Miranda, We Stay / Nos Quedamos (Bronx, NY) Jennifer Seda, Bronx River Alliance (Bronx, NY) Anthony Diaz, Newark Water Coalition (Newark, NJ) Bilal Walker, Al-Munir LLC (Newark, NJ) Christian Rodriguez, Ironbound Community Corporation (Newark, NJ) Nathaly Agosto Filión, Newark Green Team (Newark, NJ) Alex Rodriguez, Save the Sound (New Haven, CT) Doreen Abubakar, Community Place-Making Engagement Network (New Haven, CT) Schandra Madha, New Haven Ecology Project / Common Ground (New Haven, CT) Xóchitl Garcia, Environmental Justice Community Organizer (New Haven, CT) Share These Stories Help us amplify the work of these Tri-State climate heroes by sharing their stories with others in your network and across social media. Please feel free to copy and paste the posts below: Sample post 1: Let’s hear it for climate heroes! Check out #DrawdownsNeighborhood: #TriState, presented by @ProjectDrawdown — a short doc series that tells the stories of 11 changemakers bringing climate solutions to their communities. www.drawdown.org/neighborhood Sample post 2: Join @ProjectDrawdown on a journey to #PassTheMic to climate heroes whose stories too often go unheard. We’re taking you to the #TriState area to show you how 11 local changemakers are creating a healthier, more livable future for all. www.drawdown.org/neighborhood Sample post 3: Need inspiration for #climateaction in your own community? #DrawdownsNeighborhood: #TriState features 11 stories from unsung heroes who are using climate solutions to usher in a better, greener future. www.drawdown.org/neighborhood Additional, shareable assets include: Drawdown’s Neighborhood landing page Drawdown’s Neighborhood: Tri-State trailer Drawdown’s Neighborhood: Tri-State promotional graphic (also below) 
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Video  |  November 1, 2023
Triple Win: climate change, poverty, and biodiversity
Halting climate change, alleviating poverty, and stemming the loss of biodiversity are some of the most critical challenges humanity faces today. With finite resources to invest in addressing them, how do we decide where to focus our efforts? Good news: We don’t have to pick one or another! Project Drawdown has identified a set of specific technologies and practices that address multiple challenges simultaneously and synergistically, creating an exciting opportunity for funders and development agencies to dramatically amplify impact while working to address the world’s most pressing needs. In this latest Drawdown Ignite webinar, climate-poverty solutions scientist Yusuf Jameel and policy advisor Dan Jasper introduce these “triple-win” solutions and explore how strategic deployment in low- and middle-income countries can bring new hope for a better world within our lifetimes. Top Takeaways Solutions to three massive threats humanity faces today – climate change, poverty, and biodiversity loss – overlap, and numerous actions can address all three at the same time. Efforts to alleviate poverty can increase or decrease demand for fossil fuels. As development proceeds, it’s critical to avoid “carbon lock-in” by favoring renewable over carbon dioxide–producing technologies. Climate change and biodiversity loss are intricately intertwined. Climate change exacerbates biodiversity loss, and biodiversity loss exacerbates climate change. Thus, efforts to alleviate both simultaneously can have synergistic effects. For greatest impacts, funding and action should focus on solutions that address multiple challenges at the same time. For example, shifting agricultural practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can also enhance food supply, improve gender equality, and protect habitat. The ability to do so is unfortunately limited by inadequate funding, inappropriate use of available funding, and inequitable distribution of available funding. Solutions include increasing funding for projects that address multiple challenges simultaneously, living up to funding pledges, increasing accountability to ensure funds are appropriately distributed, basing funding decisions on sound science, pursuing the greatest good rather than the greatest profit, and canceling debts owed by low and middle-income countries.  Anyone can help by sharing this message with policymakers and joining advocacy organizations that recognize the importance of and promote intersectional action. Useful Resources Climate–Poverty Connections: Opportunities for Synergistic Solutions at the Intersection of Planetary and Human Well-Being Desperate for hope? Linking human well-being and climate solutions is a way forward The win-wins of climate and biodiversity solutions Reflections from Bonn: Climate negotiations must face reality and rebuild credibility A rescue plan for people and the planet New IPCC report highlights urgent need to advance climate solutions and development simultaneously Key takeaways from Drawdown Lift’s Climate–Poverty Connections webinar series This webinar is part of Project Drawdown’s monthly Drawdown Ignite webinar series. Drawdown Ignite provides information and inspiration to guide your climate solutions journey. View past Drawdown Ignite webinars on YouTube, and visit our Events page for updates on future webinars.
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